U.S. Student Funding
Direct Loans Program
Laurier is approved for the U.S. Direct Loan Program. Students wishing to pursue Direct Loan Funding must complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Master Promissory Note (MPN) each year.
Note: Laurier is not approved to receive Pell Grant Funding.
For more information, including eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions on borrowing and repayment, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website.
Applying For and Processing U.S. Student Loans
Before you begin your application process, we recommend you review the comprehensive resource for U.S. Federal Student Aid, Funding your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. Students who are U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens and who are enrolled in at least half-time in an eligible degree program can apply.
Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Before you apply for your Direct Student/Plus loans you must complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
We recommend that you complete your Entrance Counselling and submit your FASFA prior to July 1 annually to ensure that the first instalment of your funds will be available for Sept. Students who are enrolled in any online distance learning courses are not eligible to receive federal U.S. loan funding for these specific courses.
Reminder: Utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA online. FAFSA completion is easier and more accurate when the IRS Tool is used. To access the IRS Tool, you will require your FAFSA PIN. IRS Data Retrieval also simplifies the verification process since it can be used to update income information.
Email the Student Awards Office once you have submitted your FASFA. We will begin processing loan applications in August. If we require any further information or clarification of your program, you will receive an email from the Student Awards Office.
For further instructions, visit the FAFSA Tutorial: 7 Easy Steps to completing FAFSA.
Step 2: Apply for Direct Student/Plus Loans
Complete the application for your Direct Student/Plus Loan.
Sign your Master Promissory Note and complete your Entrance Counselling and Financial Awareness Counselling. To access this site you will require the PIN that you used when you completed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Parents or graduate students will complete the Plus or Grad Plus request if applying for these loans.
Step 3: Issuing Funds
Once your direct loan is approved the funding will be disbursed in two equal instalments (three equal instalments for graduate students) early fall and early winter. The disbursement will be sent by the U.S. Department of Laurier using an electronic funds transfer. The disbursement will be applied directly to the student fee account.
Once the student account has been paid in full, you may request a refund of any excess funds following the refund policy processes.
If you are receiving a Parent Direct Plus loan, this amount will be applied to the student fee account. Once your account has been paid in full, a credit may be requested for refund as per the instruction listed above in the refund policy process.
Step 4: Exit Counselling
The U.S. Department of Education requires all U.S. citizens receiving direct loans to participate in exit counselling shortly before they graduate, withdraw or cease to be enrolled in at least half-time.
Go to studentloans.gov to complete exit counseling. The link can be found under "Complete Counseling" once you sign in. Information on repayment of your student loans is available on the Repayment Information section of the Federal Student Aid website.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
Federal Aid students enrolled at Laurier are required to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements. Laurier is required to ensure that all Federal Aid students maintain a minimum level of academic progress. Funds are awarded with the understanding that students will make progress toward their chosen degree.
The academic progress of students is evaluated prior to the disbursement of Federal Aid before the start of each academic year to determine eligibility for continued aid and after each term funded by US student aid.
Assessment of Satisfactory Academic Progress
- The student’s academic year grade point average
- The maximum time frame allowed to complete the academic program
- Must achieve a minimum GPA of 4.0 (C-) each year
- Must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two-thirds of credits attempted. This is minimum 3 grades of a ‘D’ or better in a term or 6 grades of a ‘D’ or better between 2 terms of an academic year (typically fall and winter terms)
- Students must complete their educational program, within a time-frame no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program (for example, completing a four year degree program within six years)
Impact of Unsatisfactory Academic Progress
- Students who fails to meet the above requirements will be placed on Student Loan Probation for the subsequent academic year of enrolment
- Students may receive U.S. funding during this probation term
Student Loan Denied Status:
- Students who fail to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for a second year will be placed on Student Loan Denied status
- No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent terms until the student is removed form the denied status
- Students failing to satisfy the 150% requirement will be placed on Student Loan Denied status. No aid will be disbursed during subsequent terms. There are no exceptions to this requirement. There is no probationary period once the 150% standard has been exceeded.
- The student submits a written letter of appeal with supporting documentation outlining an exceptional circumstances to be considered and the Enrolment Services: Student Awards Office grants the appeal. If granted, student is placed back on Student Loan Probation for the term rather than on Student Loan Denied status. NOTE: an exception to the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements can be granted once in a student’s academic career at Laurier
- The student attends Laurier, pays for tuition and fees without the help of Federal student financial aid and does well enough in the course work to meet all the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The student regains aid eligibility in a probationary status for the next academic year